Indicating device



Juy 6 1926.

C. WAITE INDICATING DEVICE Filed @Gif 19. 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 ZI! nass.'

Patented July 6, 1926.

CHARLES WAITE, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IN DICATING DEVICE.

Application led October 19, 1925. Serial No. 63,457.

The present invention relates toindicating or display devices, and more particu-` larly to changeable devices for displaying selected numerals or characters.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and easily operated device of this general type to display a plurality of adjacent numerals or other characters, in which one or more of the characters may be selectively changed to give a desired indication.

Another object ot the invention is to provide a display device to present a. pluralityV ot identical indications from different angies in which identical changes in the several indications may be simultaneously made.

AWith this object in view, the present invention lconsists in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and `particularlyk defined in the claims.

In the accompanying `drawings Fig. 1 is a 'liront elevation partly in section of an indicating device embodying the several features of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 oi' Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 ot Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section Online 5--5 ot Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a detailed view of one of the webs.

The invention is herein illustrated and described as embodied in an illuminated sign to be prominently displayed for indicating the current price of a commodity. The device includes two indicators to be viewed from opposite sides, each ot' the indicators comprising a plurality of adjacent webs which are digitally marked and adapted to be set in a selected position with relation to one another to indicate the desired price. The web of each indicator most likely to be frequently changed upon iluctuations in price, which is ordinarily the units web, is connected with a manually operated driving means, and the other web, or webs, is adapted to be connected therewith, whereby operation of the units web alone, or of all the webs simultaneously, may be selectively determined. Corresponding webs of the two sets of indicators are simultaneously operable, so that a change in one of them effects an identical change in the other, in order that both indicators may display identical markings.

Referring to the drawings, the invention as illustrated therein comprises an indicator adapted to surmount the usual form of dispensing pump to indicate the current price of gasoline, and consists of a circular casing 8 having bezels 10 to receive the yusual glass faces, and adapted to accommodate a central incandescent lamp for purposes of illumination in the usual manner. Mounted within the iframe are two sets of indicators, designated generally by 12 and 14, and adapted to be displayed through the glass faces ot the frame. The indicator 12 comprises two transparent or translucent webs A and B, and the indicator 14 comprises similar webs C and D, each of which is ot' the form indicated in Fig. 6 and provided with a series of opaque spaced digital markings. The webs A and C constitute the units webs and the webs B and D the tens webs ot the respective indicators.

Each web is connected between and adapted to be wound up upon a pair of vertically separated rolls, indicated at 16, 18, 20, and 22 tor the webs A, B, C, and D respectively. Each roll is cfa circumference approximately equal to the distance between successive markings of the webs, so that one revolution of" the roll produces a movement of one digit in the web. The lett-hand pairs or' rolls ot each indicator, as viewed in Fig. 1, namely, the rolls corresponding toy webs B and C, are supported on hollow shafts 24 and 26, which are journaled in a main bracket 28 supported in the 'frame 8 and a plurality of angle brackets 30, which are secured to the bracket 28. The right-hand rolls of each indicator, namely, the rolls corresponding to the webs A and D, are supported on sleeves 32 and 34 surrounding` the shafts 24 and 26 respectively, and concentric therewith.

The units rolls ot the indicators are adapted to be manually operated Iand are advanced simultaneously so that identical indications are always displayed from both ot the indicators 12 and 14, and provision is also made for connecting the tens roll of each indicator with the units roll to operate the former upon rotation of the latter when a change in the tens indication is desired. The movement of the units rolls to el'l'ect movement ofthe webs A and C is caused by the rotation of a shaft 40 vwhich lis journaled in the casing 8 and the bracket 28, and carries et one end a hand .vheel 42 and at the other a s rocliiet Wheel A Similar sprocket is ociated with each ol the units rolls. 'the sprec is fi-U Ytor the indicator l2 are inoin'iteal on the sleeves 32, and the sprockets il ttor the indicator 1.4. cn the shafts .fi chain 5() connects all ot the sprockets, so that rotation ot the hand wheel causes a sin'uiltaneous movement ot all el the units rolls. and a consequent similar movement oil both the Webs A, and (l. A. pointer secured to the shaft 40 indicates' rotation ot the shaft through successive revolutions lfor consequent advancement ol the web through av distance corresjionding to one numerical marking.

In order to cause movement et the Webs lil and l), which are the Vtens vfcbs oi the indicators 12 and 14.-, the rolls 18 and Q2 on which they are mounted are relatively movable on their longitudinal ailes, ivith respect to therolls 1 6 and Q0 of the units webs. The shafts 24 ot the indicator 12 slide Within the sleeves 3Q, and the sleeves El oi: the indicator 1t slide upon the shafts 2G. Each ot the rolls 1S and 2Q is provided with a projection or button 5a, adapted to engage in an opening 56 in its adjacent units roll when' axial movement ot the tens rolls is caused to take place, thus causing simultaneous movement ot all the rolls of the indi eating device. The relative axial movement betiveen the rolls is controlled by the n'ianually operated plunger 58, which is journaled in the bracket QS and which `serves to oscillate a rock lever 60 pivotcd on an angle iron G2 secured to the bracket 28. An outward movement of the plunger 5S serves to turn the rock lever 60 in a counter-clockwise direction and move the tens web B to the right and the web D to the lett, as viewed in Fig. 2. For accomplishment of this purpose the shafts 24. ot the indicator 12 are each provided with a disc G11. each ot' which is received at the end of a slotted plate 6G, the plate beingl provided With a iin GS secured by collars TO on the plunger 5S, and each ot the rolls 22 is provided with a disc 72, which is spaced slightly away from the end oil' its corresponding roll to receive the plate 74, which is attached to a rod 76 pivoted at the elnd of the rock lever 60.

It will therefore be seen that an outward movement of the plunger 5S will effect an engaging movement of the adjacent rolls of the indicators 12 and 14, and an inivard movement of the plunger will eiilect a separating movement ot the rolls, so that the operation of the units rolls singly or ot the units and tens rolls together may be selectively determined.

The friction ot the various shafts and sprocket Wheels is sutlicieut and maybe relied upon to retain the units rolls ot the indicators from accidental displacement. in

order, however, to hold the tens rolls 'from displacement, especially when the units rolls are alone operated, a detent 'tor each o'i" the tour tens rolls is provided. For the indicator l2 the detente are in the Vtorni of adjustable pins 80 received in the angle brackets 30 and projecting into notches cl2 it'orined in the discs 64., and tor the indica tor 14s the detente comprise screws S1 received in the bracket Q8 and projecting into notches Sti in the disc 72. lt will be seen, there'l'ne, that upon axial movement ot the tens rolls `to engage with the units rollsI ot the indicators, the respective discs are moved avfay trom 'the dcten ts to permit rotation ot the rolls, While after movement of the ivehs to their desired position the discs again engage with the detents to restrain the rolls trom accidental rotation, proper return oi the discs to their respective positions being assured by the tact et the pointer being` alvays brought to a 'definite angular position so as to indicate movement ot the `webs through definite steps corresponding to the distance between maritings thereon.

While it is preferred to employ the specilic construction and arrangement of parts shoivn and described, it will be understood that this construction and arrangement is not essential exceptso 'tar as specitied in the claims and may be changed or moditied without departing from the broader 'features ot the invention.

rlhe invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. An indicating` device having,y in combination, a plurality oit adjacent Webs, a pair ot winding rolls for each web, one pair ot rolls being longitudinally movable with 1elation to the other pair, driving means permanently connected With the last mentioned pair otl rolls, means 'tor etl'ecting engagen'ieut ot adjacent rolls to cause simultaneous rotation ot all the rolls, and a detent associated ivith the axially movable rolls itor preventing rotation of said rolls when adjacent rolls are disconnected trom each other, the dctent being disengaged from the rolls when Vthe rolls are connected together iter simultaneous movement.

2. An indicating device having, in combination, tivo adjacent marked' webs, a pair of driving rolls for each web whereby diiterent portions ot the webs i'nay be displayed, the separate Webs l'or the two pairs being disposed on the same longitudinal axis, supporting means tor the rolls comprising a shaft -tor each roll oit one pair and a concentric sleeve tor each roll of the other pair, means for rotating thesupporting means ol one of the pairs of rolls, means causing engagement ot the separate rolls of the several pairs to permit simultaneous rotation thereof, 'means 'tor relatively moving the rolls longitudinally to engage the rolls together,v and a detent operating to prevent rotation of the rolls when the separate rolls ot' the indicators are disengaged from each other, the detent being inoperative to prevent rotation ot the rolls when the rolls are engaged with each other.

E3. An indicating device having, in combination, a plurality of sets ot similar indicators, each indicator comprising a set of adjacent Webs, Winding means for each Web, means for simultaneously actuating the Winding means et corresponding vvebs of the several indicators, and a single manually operated control for selectively determining the operation of a single Web or a plurality cil webs ot each indicator.

-l- An indicating device having, in combination, a plurality ot similar indicators, each indicator comprising a set et adjacent Webs, Winding rolls 'for each Web, means tor supporting the Winding rolls ot the several `webs oic each indicator consisting of axially movable concentric sleeves, means igor simultaneously actuating the Winding rolls o a single web of each indicator, a single control means for simultaneously effect-ing a relative axial movement between concentric sleeves of the several indicators, and means fior causing engagement of adjacent Winding rolls upon occurrence ot such relative movement, whereby all Webs ot the various indicators may be simultaneouslymoved.

5. An indicating device having, in combination, two similar indicators, each indicator comprising a tens Web and a units Web provided wth digital markings, a pair oit winding rolls for each Web, supporting means tor the rolls, means causing engagement ol' adjacent rolls of each indicator to permit simultaneous rotation thereof, and control means associated with the rolls of tlie tens Webs for moving said rolls in opposite directions to etliect engagement thereot with the rolls ol the units Webs of the respective indicators.

6. An indicating device having, in combination, a tens Web and a units web arranged djacent to each other, a pair ct winding rolls for each web and separated to display one numeral only ot each Web, supporting means for the rolls comprising a shaft for cach roll of one web and a concentric sleeve for each roll oi the other web, a sprocket wheel secured to each supporting means et the rolls for the units web, a manually rotatable sprocket Wheel, a chain connecting the sprocket Wheels, means tor effecting relative axial movement of the supporting meansc ot adjacent rolls, and means causing engage ment oi adjacent rolls upon such arial movenient, whereby independent movement of the units iveb or simultaneous movement ot the units and tens Webs may be selectively determined.

'l'. An indicating device having, in combiiation, a plurality of similar indicators, each indicator comprising` adjacent tens and units webs, a pair o'f Winding rolls for each web separated to display one numeral only or' each web, supporting means for the rolls comprising a shaft for each roll of one web and a concentric sleeve for each roll of the other web adjacent thereto, the supporting means oi' adjacent rolls being relatively movable axially, a sprocket Wheel. secured to each supporting means ot the units Webs, a manually rotatable sprocket wheel, a chain connecting the sprocket Wheels, means for causing simultaneous axial movement of the sup porting means for the tens Webs, and means causing engagement et adjacent rolls of the indicators upon such axial movement, Whereby independent movement of all the units webs or simultaneous movement of all the tens and units Webs may be selectively determined.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification. Y

CHARLES WTATE. 

